Everyday stonewear, made in USA? [Archive] - Women's Cycling Discussion Forums

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 07:15 AM

Ok, I'm a dork. I'm nervous about the Mystery Dishes we use, made in China, and potential lead (and other metal) levels in the glaze. I tried to find out if they were in the stonewear recalls, but haven't had luck.

Other than switching to a glass set of dishes, my best (and first) choice is getting stonewear made in USA or Canada. After seeing how darn near impossible it has been for me to find stonewear at the mall that ISN'T made in China, I almost feel fierce about how I want some made on this continent. Dammit, we can't let our great pottery traditions/factories disappear!

Once upon a time I remember hearing that Pfalzgraff was still made on the east coast. Went to their website (tons of nice cheap everyday stonewear) but I couldn't figure out where it was made! (or they ain't saying)

Anybody know of simple everyday stonewear, 4 place settings for $60 or so, made in the US or Canada?

Trek420

12-30-2007, 07:18 AM

I often check

www.madeinusa.org

www.stillmadeinusa.com

www.usstuff.com

http://buyamerican.com

Before shopping or shop from there.

But for stonewear why not find a local potter?

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 07:23 AM

I found things like these guys: http://www.hartstonepottery.com/ but they are just way to expensive for me. Looking for plain everyday stuff.

This is pretty much exactly what I'm looking for http://www.heathceramics.com but I don't have several hundred dollars.

Still Made In USA had the explanation that Pfalzgraff is no longer made in USA. Bummer.

This one is very cool, and has stuff I like, but they are restaurant supply and you have to order by the DOZEN! :eek: http://www.hfcoors.com/

And even good ol' Corelle isn't made in USA anymore. (at least they have the guts to say so on their website)

Who knew this would be so difficult?

Maybe I'll take a little trip down to the restaurant supply store near me, and see if they sell any singles of the HF Coors stoneware. (even a six-pack would do! :p )

Eden

12-30-2007, 07:31 AM

How about Corelle wear? It's still made in Corning, NY

*edit* - from the Correlle web site All CORELLE® Vitrelle® glass dinnerware is manufactured in the USA at the same Corning, New York factory where it has been made since the line was launched in 1970.
(the Hearthstone line that is not Corelle is made somewhere else)

and this is from the Pfaltzgraff web site - sounds like it is still made in the USA too.

The Pfaltzgraff family immigrated to the United States in the early 1800's and set up a small potter's wheel and kiln on their modest twenty-one acre homestead in York County, Pennsylvania. The brand has remained in York ever since.

I personally like Japanese earthen wear. You do have to watch as some of it is made in China, but plenty is still made in Japan, which I would guess has much more stringent rules than China. (Uwajimaya usually has a nice selection)

makbike

12-30-2007, 07:40 AM

Here is a link to Louisville Stoneware - they make great stuff.

http://www.louisvillestoneware.com/

Blueberry

12-30-2007, 07:49 AM

Lots of the Crate and Barrel plain, cheap basic white stuff is made in Europe. Not the US, but at least you don't have the likelihood of mystery metals...

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 07:53 AM

Fiestaware! http://www.homerlaughlin.com/ffd/shop.asp?P=SET&Q=A&T=

I wouldn't have thought of Fiestaware. I assume they took care of the little radioactivity issue... And if I order thru the "outlet" I can get a full set for less than $200. (my who-knows-what made in China was $19.95. But I have chipped and scratched and dunno what's leaching out of it.)

I love the stuff at Uwajimaya, maybe I should go check out some of the made in Japan instead of fixating on finding affordable made in USA.

Pfalzgraff was bought in 2005 and the holding company closed down the US factory. What a huge bummer, eh?

Oooh, that Louisville Stonewear is just gorgeous! (more expensive than I can do right now, but really lovely lovely dishes!)

Thanks for the Crate and Barrel tip. There is one in the mall, I might have to go take a look, especially if the restaurant supply place near me is a bust.

I got my bonus at work, and decided it's time to replace the dishes. That's why I'm on a tear over dishes right now. (spend the $$ on the dishes before I fritter it away on silly things like food and electricity bills :) )

Xrayted

12-30-2007, 08:00 AM

Knot - as far as I know, Pfaltzgraff is made in PA still. I've been to the factory and had a friend who worked there. It's actually a big deal in those parts that they haven't gone overseas. It was always the #1 seller in that region cuz it's local. Bummer that they closed it. I never knew and I lived only 25 minutes away.

I agree that it is very hard to find nice dinnerware at reasonable prices that are still made in USA.
I always liked Bujno potters. Our kitty bowls are made by them. :D They do nice dinnerware as well as other things but are too expensive if you want an entire set. They make them right there at the shop, one at a time.

I may have to check out those sites that Trek put up. We are looking for a nice dinnerware set ourselves.

smilingcat

12-30-2007, 08:05 AM

Hi knotted,

Most of the stuff imported from China are not stone ware. They are earthenware. Best "wetting agent" for earthenware is lead. It gives that glossy shiny quality to the glaze.

The difference between earthenware and stoneware is the temperature it is fired. Earthenware fires to cone 010 to 04 while stoneware fires to cone 9-12. Some potters will fire to 14. Stoneware is fully vitrious meaning that the clay is fully fused.

The stoneware temperature require different glaze chemistry than earthenware glaze and can not use lead. It literally gets burnt off. "wetting agent" at stoneware temperature is sodium, patassium and calcium.

For food use, find pottery with glossy finish on the inside, matt finish, crackled finish on the outside is fine. Do not use crystalline glaze finish.

If you are not sure about lead content, you can find a simple lead test kit. http://www.leadinspector.com/?gclid=COiQzsW60JACFRscawodXCviWA

If you want hand made pottery in US, going price for a mug is around $15-$25. Bowls can be had for $10-$80 depending on the size and quality.

here is a link to oregon potters association. Probably the best organized and best run pottery association. http://www.oregonpotters.org/
they should have links to other pottery related sites.

You may want to check Ceramics Monthly magazine. They showcase lot of potters here in US. Go to your local library and see if they have back issues to look through.

I used to do lot of throwing. Still have about half a ton of porcelain clay and hundres of pounds of glaze supply.

smilingcat

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 08:07 AM

The info I got about Pfalzgraff is from the Made In USA site that Trek put up. Nifty site, very interesting. I did find on the Pfalz site where they mentioned being bought in 2005, but nothing about the factory. I suppose I could call them and ask.

I remember when I was a kid it seems like ALL my friends' families had the Colonial pattern Pfalzgraff dishes! (brown and gray and cream were very popular)

There is a pottery co-op near my mom's, and I have thought about commisioning my favorite potter there (she made your vase, Trek; and my beautiful pale blue serving bowl) to make me a set of dishes. That could get expensive, but that'd be even cooler than getting some made in a factory.

Smilingcat - if I tell the potter I want stoneware, not earthenware, will I get the glaze you describe? The clay she uses is white, not red. Is that stoneware? What is a crystalline finish?

salsabike

12-30-2007, 08:12 AM

Knott, we got Heath Ceramics when we got married in '91. This past year, we went looking for some replacements for stuff we'd broken. We found a bunch of Heath seconds on Ebay and stocked up. It was great! Take a look there and see if you can find what you want.

Xrayted

12-30-2007, 08:24 AM

Knot, you're going to think I'm an idiot, but when I moved here, I left the wheel and kiln behind. I knew they would just go unused because of being in an apartment instead of a house. Also, they were "ours" and I'm not an azz in that way. I miss throwing though.

smilingcat

12-30-2007, 08:32 AM

Hi X,

do you have photos of your work? Like to see them. I'm always interested ins seeing others' work.

smilingcat

Eden

12-30-2007, 08:33 AM

The info I got about Pfalzgraff is from the Made In USA site that Trek put up. Nifty site, very interesting. I did find on the Pfalz site where they mentioned being bought in 2005, but nothing about the factory. I suppose I could call them and ask.

its pretty misleading if you ask me... I dug around a bit more and finally in the FAQ under - are my dishes safe.... they talk about sourcing from Asia, so I'd say indeed they have shut the PA factory down, or at very least are not getting all of their product from it anymore. They should probably mention that in their little feel good "been in York county every since" bit.....:mad:

It does sound that Corelle as long as you stick to the actual Corelle glass wear is still made in the Corning factory.

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 09:20 AM

SouthernBelle

12-30-2007, 09:51 AM

Fiesta is made by the Homer Laughlin China Co. http://www.hlchina.com/ which has been around a very long time. I have my grandmother's set of Laughlin china. I have also collected a set of Laughlin "skytone" which I use as my everyday dishes. Anything from them is a good pick.

Sheesh

12-30-2007, 09:52 AM

I have Fiestaware and LOVE it. I never even stopped to think about where it was made. :P You can often find it on sale at big department stores...

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 10:22 AM

I did it!

I ordered 8 place settings of Fiestaware kinda cheap from Amazon. Got a mix of half Cobalt and half Cinnabar.

Was only gonna order 4 settings, but then decided that I might like to have people over for dinner and NOT have to break out paper plates!

Whew, kind of scary! I can spend big $$ on a bike or bike stuff, but spending it on dishes makes me hyperventilate a little!

I feel so... domestic. So... commited. :eek:

sandra

12-30-2007, 10:55 AM

I was going to recommend Fiestaware, but I see someone did and you have already ordered. The great thing about it is that it is never discontinued and you can always add to it or mix and match.

edited because I read to fast and you already said what colors you got.

sandra

12-30-2007, 11:02 AM

I have it in Scarlet and Sunflower. Our favorite piece is the Jumbo Cup (http://www.amazon.com/Fiesta-Shamrock-149-18-ounce-Jumbo/dp/B0000CEP8M/ref=sr_1_24?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1199044910&sr=1-24). We use them for soup bowls.

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 11:47 AM

Oooh, cool Jumbo cup!

I didn't just order dishes, I joined a Fiestaware cult! http://www.hlchina.com/fiestaitems.htm wheeeee! :D

Trek420

12-30-2007, 11:52 AM

We use them for soup bowls.

Soup? I thought those are for giant cup of coffee :p

sandra

12-30-2007, 11:54 AM

They are, but they are too huge for coffee to us. We like them for soup and cereal.

Trek420

12-30-2007, 12:00 PM

They are, but they are too huge for coffee to us. We like them for soup and cereal.

The first place I encountered huge mugs of coffee, Alice Waters

www.cafefanny.com

carpaltunnel

12-30-2007, 12:03 PM

KnottedYet, you're thinking the same as a lot of us probably are. I bought a 19.95 set of M i k a s a from the factory outlet store (closing sale) just before the whole China/lead information hit, and they are still in the garage in boxes, waiting for me to figure out if they are safe or not.

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 12:07 PM

I'd use those giant cups for soup and chili AND giant cups of coffee!!

More caffeine, more beans, more happiness! :p

(coffee is the secret ingredient in my chili. Making chicken chili in the crock pot right now. Will have to eat it from my mystery-content bowls for now, though.)

Carpaltunnel - there's a link back a few posts for a home self-testing kit for lead. Maybe you can test your Mikasa dishes?

mimitabby

12-30-2007, 12:11 PM

i have fiesta ware. I have lots of colors. my only regret is that i can't keep buying more. it's wonderful stuff. in 15 years we've only ever broken one piece!

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 12:13 PM

The first place I encountered huge mugs of coffee, Alice Waters

www.cafefanny.com

That cafe sounds absolutely grand! Saul's has more stuff I can eat, though. Maybe I need to open a cafe like that some day that's gluten-free. Only serve b'fast and lunch, simple limited menu. No waitstaff. Eat at the counter.

Could be fun, for a while. Owning/running a restaurant would probably drive me nuts eventually.

carpaltunnel

12-30-2007, 12:31 PM

Thanks for the link to the testing site, I had missed that.

Sheesh

12-30-2007, 12:42 PM

We have cobalt and yellow (now discontinued). I want to add some red pieces, but don't have the cupboard space yet. Maybe when we finally get around to moving from our condo to a house...

I use our jumbo mugs in place of bowls all the time! I can reach them in the cupboards easier, so I tend to use them a lot. Especially for ice cream! :D

Congrats on your new purchase! I hope you enjoy them for many years to come.

KnottedYet

12-30-2007, 12:47 PM

I really like the shape of that Jumbo Mug.

After I get my HUGE Fiestaware order and use them for a while, I'll start thinking about what color of Jumbo Mug to order. (that sunflower-y color is appealing)

smilingcat

12-30-2007, 03:15 PM

Zen

12-30-2007, 03:48 PM

Oh, I have long coveted FiestaWare...most of my stuff came from box lots at estate sales.

Xrayted

12-30-2007, 04:27 PM

I've always liked the FiestaWare too. I love the colors you picked, Knot.

Oooh, I like these (http://www.hlchina.com/indigo.htm) too. Dangit, don't get me started... :rolleyes:

salsabike

12-30-2007, 04:30 PM

I've always liked the FiestaWare too. I love the colors you picked, Knot.

Oooh, I like these (http://www.hlchina.com/indigo.htm) too. Dangit, don't get me started... :rolleyes:

Yeah, I was ogling the Indigo too. Man, that's gorgeous.

sundial

12-30-2007, 04:49 PM

Tuckervill

12-30-2007, 05:40 PM

Ok, I'm late to the party but I bought earthware pottery from Good Earth Pottery located in Evening Shade, AR. Yep, there really is an Evening Shade.
.

Ha! I crashed in a plane in Evening Shade, Arkansas. (I survived.)

;)

Karen

sundial

12-30-2007, 05:46 PM

Oh my goodness--that's crazy! Did you get a big settlement??

smilingcat

12-30-2007, 07:35 PM

Ok, I'm late to the party but I bought earthware pottery from Good Earth Pottery located in Evening Shade, AR. Yep, there really is an Evening Shade.

Here's the website. http://www.goodearthpottery.com/

I bought the pottery with ivy leaf design.

Knot, enjoy the Fiesta ware.

OMG!!!:cool::cool::cool: Those tea pots are gorgeous!! sigh... I can't buy anymore pottery. almost all the dinnerware we use are hand made. very few production stuff. still the goodearthpottery looks just so luscious. I want to stroke it, touch it... :p:p:p me terrible.

Smilingcat

SouthernBelle

12-31-2007, 04:26 AM

At least those who love the indigo know what to put at the top of the list for NEXT Christmas!

Maybe we should start our own Homer Laughlin cult. :D

sundial

12-31-2007, 08:36 AM

OMG!!!:cool::cool::cool: Those tea pots are gorgeous!! sigh... I can't buy anymore pottery.

Smilingcat

Yes you can! You NEED a 2008 tea pot to celebrate your miles you put in.
Don't you just love enablers? ;)

By the way, he uses clay from his pond and makes his own glazes. :)

Lifesgreat

12-31-2007, 09:47 AM

OK, this is a bit off topic, but here goes:

I LOVE stoneware, earthenware or whatever it is called and I love going to festivals and buying dishes.

I went to a festival a couple of years ago and fell in love with a certain vendor's creations. I bought bowls, etc. and use them all the time. She looked familiar to me and after talking to her husband, learned she is the mother of an old boyfriend of mine from 25 years ago :eek:

I still see her at a certain festival and continue to buy her wares, despite being dumped by her son. :p Besides, if he hadn't broken up with me, I would have never met DH! So things turned out great-wonderful husband and spiffy dishes!

Small world.

salsabike

12-31-2007, 10:09 AM

For food use, find pottery with glossy finish on the inside, matt finish, crackled finish on the outside is fine. Do not use crystalline glaze finish.

smilingcat

Smilingcat, if you get a moment, I too would like to know the difference in looks between glossy and crystalline finish.

Trek420

12-31-2007, 11:44 AM

Smilingcat, if you get a moment, I too would like to know the difference in looks between glossy and crystalline finish.

I'm guessing because food particles could get trapped in the glaze? Would it be ok on the outside of the peice? Because I like crystalline glazed work.

Tuckervill

12-31-2007, 04:33 PM

Oh my goodness--that's crazy! Did you get a big settlement??

Maybe I should have said "crash-landed". I wasn't injured. I'm probably one of the very few people who can say she flew through power lines and lived to tell about it. Temps hovering around 5 degrees make for very fragile power lines...broken windshields make for very scary fuel pouring in the cabin...snow covered cow pastures make for very bumpy dead-stick landings...

And it was my 25th birthday. :)

Karen

Tuckervill

12-31-2007, 04:39 PM

Back on topic...my son and I took a pottery class last year, and we made lots of soup-sized bowls. Then my friend made lots of bowls and gave me her rejects (because I liked them anyway). Then I started eating on smaller plates and started collecting individual salad plates to make the experience more enticing. I like my eclectic collection and I'll probably start collecting dinner plates, too.

....must not order from Good Earth until after cruise...

Karen

Brandi

12-31-2007, 06:26 PM

I'm on the verge of ordering $175 of Fiestaware. (8 place settings, and while $50 more expensive than I initially intended, not far off.)

One of the cool things I'm liking is that I can mix and match colors and get a gazillion other pieces (like chili bows and chowder bowls and serving bowls and salt-n-pepper shakers...)
I have fiesta wear and it is,or seems, unbreakable! I have dropped plates and had them stay together. Not a chip! I love fiesta wear. Ebay is a good place to get stuff too that is fiesta wear.

Trek420

12-31-2007, 06:30 PM

Ooooooh so you're why the power was out throughout the East Coast ;) Dead stick landing? I don't know what that means but sounds like no controls? :eek:

Tuckervill

01-01-2008, 06:19 AM

It was a very small antique plane, and my friend the pilot took me up for my birthday. He grew up in Evening Shade, and we were "buzzing" his childhood home where his brother lived--apparently he'd forgotten about the location of the power lines, and I didn't see them, because I was looking at the ground. Because we hit the power lines, the fuel gauge, located on the nose of the plane broke off, and fuel was pouring in the broken windshield of the cockpit. We climbed and circled for a landing, but then had to cut the engine in case of fire. Thus, "dead-stick", and there were cows, too. Top it all off, the pilot is a paraplegic and I had to get him out of the plane quickly in case of fire, and his wheelchair was back at the airport in Little Rock.

There was no fire, very little damage to the plane, except the broken windshield, and where the live power lines sliced through the prop like it was a stick of butter.

The story is much longer than that, and I'm saving it for my memoirs! :)

Karen

Trek420

01-01-2008, 07:57 AM

very little damage to the plane, except the broken windshield, and where the live power lines sliced through the prop like it was a stick of butter.

The story is much longer than that, and I'm saving it for my memoirs! :)

Karen

Uhm, therefore the live power lines could just as easily have sliced through you like a stick of butter :eek:

We're very lucky to have you here. :cool: To heck with the memoir, I'm waiting for the movie. :p

sundial

01-02-2008, 08:43 AM

Maybe I should have said "crash-landed". I wasn't injured. I'm probably one of the very few people who can say she flew through power lines and lived to tell about it. Temps hovering around 5 degrees make for very fragile power lines...broken windshields make for very scary fuel pouring in the cabin...snow covered cow pastures make for very bumpy dead-stick landings...

And it was my 25th birthday. :)

Karen

So......that was your 25th birthday. What did you do for the big 4-0??

smilingcat

01-02-2008, 07:44 PM

I will post a picture of crystalline glaze... hopefully tomorrow. have to take pictures first. I haven't forgotten.

Smilingcat

Tuckervill

01-03-2008, 04:43 AM

So......that was your 25th birthday. What did you do for the big 4-0??

I flew to the Corpus Christi and spent a whole 7 days near the beach by myself. Since I was born in January, I was really, really alone! First time I'd been alone for that long since in my entire life. It was heavenly.

I'll be 46 in 8 days. :)

Karen

mimitabby

01-03-2008, 06:40 AM

wow, Tuckerville, you have very interesting birthdays!

Tuckervill

01-03-2008, 02:50 PM

I'm postponing this next one for a few days until the 25th when I get on a ship with the Barenaked Ladies!!! Can-NOT WAIT! I'm going to turn 46 with the Barenaked Ladies!!! YIPEEE!!!!

Karen :D

smilingcat

01-06-2008, 08:20 PM

example of crystalline glaze. The difference in color and "looks" is because the glaze crystallized as it was cooling down. and what you see is the random crystal growth. I bought this. Not interested in working with this type of glaze as it tends to drip off the piece. You also have to grind off the dripped glaze. You can not use this type of glaze on food serving dish and especially for any acidic drinks as it will leach zinc and other heavy metal.

smilingcat

01-06-2008, 08:28 PM

an example of glossy "wet look" glaze. This cup is about 4 inches tall and I was experimenting with Mason stains. Clay body is porcelain. Saturn orange was spray painted then flowers painted with brush. The black was too thick and too strong. Oh well. The clear glossy glaze on this piece is very stable and safe for food and drink.